Brooklyn Heights Close Up: 155-157 Willow Street
This pair of three-story row houses at 155-157 Willow Street is typical of many brick houses built in the Federal period, which lasted from the Revolutionary War through the 1830’s. Modesty, simplicity and restaint were the themes of the day, with even doorway and window trim being kept to a minimum. Most of these houses…
This pair of three-story row houses at 155-157 Willow Street is typical of many brick houses built in the Federal period, which lasted from the Revolutionary War through the 1830’s. Modesty, simplicity and restaint were the themes of the day, with even doorway and window trim being kept to a minimum. Most of these houses were constructed with the long sides and short sides of the red bricks alternating in the facade. Lockwood cites these two Willow Street houses (along with a third at Number 159) as some of the best preserved examples of the period. Specifically, numbers 155 and 157 retain their original pitched roofs and dormers and the “planar smoothness” of their facades reflects the period’s emphasis on classical unity. Another interesting note: The facades of the houses do not run exactly parallel to Willow Street because the street was reoriented slightly after the houses were built. GMAP
Bricks and Brownstone [CharlesLockwood.com] AMAZON
I think there is a metal plaque that recounts that tunnel story on the sidewalk somewhere. Cool.
Lemme see what I can do…
That is cool. Photo?
These are two of my favorite houses in the neighborhood. Another interesting feature of the houses is a tunnel that runs from the basement of the house on the right to what were the stables (now a converted house) to the north of these two houses. There’s a skylight set into the sidewalk that illuminates the tunnel. Very cool.